Combined wheelbarrow and hose reel



26, 1952 F. c. COOTWARE 2,608,350

COMBINED WHEELBARROW AND HOSE REEL.

Filed Aug. 50, 1949 2 SHEETSP-SHEET 1 25 26 23) 2o 22 I o g 24 I6 8 8\o If u a I! -15 F/E f 5 l5 I7 26 u 23 n- 22 I! l2 l6 INVENTOR.

Y FRANK C. COOTWARE Patented Aug. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (JOMBINED WHEELBARROW AND HOSE REEL V Frank C. Coctware, Mattoon, Wis Application August 30, 1949, S erial No. 113,097

1 Claim. (Cl. 242-437) My invention relates toa combined wheelbarrow and hose reel.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a combined wheelbarrow and hose reel unit for use about the home and garden, the unit being highly simplified in construction, extremely sturdy and cheap to build.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a wheelbarrow having a removable body or box, so that the same may be used for hauling a variety of materials. 1

A still further object of my invention is to provide a combination device of the above-mentioned class wherein a hose'reel and wheelbarrow box or body are both readily removable, so that the device may be used for either purpose, and both the hose reel and wheelbarrow body may be mounted together upon the device for storage.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a side elevation of a combined wheelbarrow and hose reel embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the same,

Figure 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section taken on line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the device and showing the same as used for a hose reel,

Figure 6 is a similar view of the combined device with the parts arranged for storage, and

Figure '7 is a diagonal section taken on line 1-1 of Figure 6.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral l designates generally a wheelbarrow frame, including generally horizontal transversely spaced forwardly converging frame sides or bars ll, carrying bearings [2 at their forward ends, within which is journalled a transverse rotatable shaft l3 having secured thereto for rotation therewith a Wheel 14, arranged at the longitudinal center of the shaft, as shown. Spaced rearwardly of the wheel l4 and near the longitudinal center, of the frame ID, are transversely oppositely arranged vertical legs [5, having their tops rigidly secured to the bars H, as shown. The bars or frame sides ll extend rearwardly of the legs I and form the 2 usual wheelbarrow handles I6. Longitudinal inclined diagonal braces H are provided upon opposite sides of thewheelbarrow and the rear ends of these braces are rigidly secured to the legs l5 near their vertical centers, while their forward ends are rigidly secured to the bars ll rearwardly of the wheel I 4, as shown. A forward horizontal transverse beam 18 is rigidly mounted upon the bars I adjacent to the forward ends of the braces I! and extends between the bars I l for connecting the same. The top of the beam I8 is disposed at an elevation above the top of the wheel 14 and substantially in alignment with the tops of the legs 15, Figure 3. A rear transverse brace or bar I9 is rigidly secured to the lower sides of the bars I I and extends between. the legs ISL A horizontal rectangular base or platform 23 is provided and is rigidly mounted near its forward end upon the transverse beam 13. The rear end of the platform 20 is rigidly secured to an upstanding vertical end 2 l, rigidly secured to the transverse bar i9,as shown. The platform 23 has a forward transverse vertical end 22, rigidly secured thereto, and projecting above the platform for the same distance as the rear end 2|. The platform also includes longitudinal sides 23, rigidly secured thereto and to the ends 2i and 22. The sides 23 are skirted, as shown, and extend below the platform 20 as shown at 2 2.

The construction thus far described forms a handy fiat bottom wheelbarrow, useful for hauling long objects such as boards and pipe, as well as many other articles.

I provide a removable body or box 25 which may be formed of wood, sheet metal or the like. This box is open at its top and includes a fiat bottom. The box is preferably rectangular and is adapted to be placed upon the platform 20-, inwardly of the upstanding ends 2! and 22 and the sides 23. The ends and sides prevent the box from sliding off of the platform 20, in use. Obviously, with the box mounted upon the platform 2%, the wheelbarrow is useful for hauling a variety of materials, such as sand, gravel, or the like.

Arranged upon opposite sides of the wheelbarrow and near the longitudinal center of the platform 20 are upstanding laterally oppositely arranged posts 26, rigidly secured to the sides 23 and bars I I, as shown. The posts 2'6 extend vertically above the platform 20 for a substantial distance, and are provided in their top ends with transversely aligned U-shaped openings 21. The posts 2'5 are adapted to removably support a hose rack or reel 28, including ends comprising crossed arms or bars 29, rigidly secured together, and

arranged at right angles. The hose reel further comprises transverse horizontal bars or members 30, which are circumferentially spaced, and rigidly secured at their opposite ends to the crossed arms 29. These members 30 form the supports for a hose 3| which is windable upon the reel or rack 28. The crossed arms 29 carry a transverse rotatable axle 32, the outer ends of which extend outwardly of the crossed arms and are journalled within the U-shaped openings 21, as shown. Washers 33 may be provided between the posts 26 and crossed arms 29, if desired.

When the box or body 25 is removed, the hose reel 28 is mounted as shown in Figure 5 andthe device serves as a portable hose reel. 7

When it is desired to store all elements of the combined device, the hose reel may be mounted as shown in Figure 5 and the body-or box25 inverted and placed over the top of the hose reel, Figure 6, the top edges of the inverted box engaging upon the. crossed arms 29, which support the box.

It is to be understood that the form ofmy invention herewith shown and described is 'to'be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangements of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In a combined wheelbarrow and hose reel, a Wheelbarrow frame including a pair of inclined frame bars arranged longitudinally of and converging toward one end of the frame, av ground wheel rotatably mounted between the convergent ends of said frame bars, a pair of substantially vertical, ground-engaging support legs secured at their upper ends to the respective frame bars intermediate the opposite ends of the frame bars, and a pair of brace bars extending transversely of and between the respective frame bars at locations spaced longitudinally'of the frame bars; a flat, horizontal platform having connections at form, the posts providing means in cooperation with the platform effective to reinforce the frame transversely. thereof at a location intermediate the brace bars, and having their upper ends projected above the platform, said upper ends of the posts having notches formed therein; and a hose reel carried by the posts, said reel including a reel axle having its ends removably and rotatably seated in the notches, pairs of crossed arms carried by the end portions of the axle, and connecting members extending between said pairs of crossed arms and Spaced circumferentially about the axle to provide a drum portion on which a hose may be wound. a

FRANK C. COOTWARE.

.-. REFERENCES CITED .7 The following. references areof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 9 Name Date 160,220 Muller Feb 23, 1875 345,775 Fay Dec. 21, 1836 1,342,437 Gordon June 8, 1920 1,559,646 Roemer Nov. 3, 1925 1,831,026 Nessan Nov. 10, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 76,027 Switzerland IVIar. 16, 1913 610,640 Germany Mar. 14, 1935 

